Tumbler with drum transfer apparatus

ABSTRACT

At least one hollow rotatable drum is movable between a first and a second position in the latter of which it can receive and discharge its contents. First displacing means is provided for displacing the drum between its positions. Container means is movable between an upper and a lower position in which it is respectively located above and below the level of the drum when the latter is in the second position thereof. A hoist or similar means displaces the container means between the upper and lower positions thereof. Connecting means connects the interiors of the drum and the container means and enables gravity discharge of the contents of the drum to the container means when the drum is in the second position and the container means is in the lower position, and of the contents of the container means to the drum when the former is in the upper is in its upper position and the drum is in its second position.

United States Patent [1 1 Dreher [451 Dec. 25, 1973 TUMBLER WITH DRUMTRANSFER [73] Assignee: Dr.-1ng. Manfrid Dreher KG,

Engelsbrand, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 136,844

[52] US. Cl. 51/164 [51] Int. Cl B241) 31/02 [58] Field of Search51/164; 241/171 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,470,3405/1949 Cook 51/164 X 2,923,104 2/1960 Olson 2,116,160 5/1938 Rosenberger51/164 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,097,852 7 H1961 Germany..'5l/l64 Primary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead Attorney-Michael S.Striker [57] ABSTRACT At least one hollow rotatable drum is movablebetween a first and a second position in the latter of which it canreceive and discharge its contents. First displacing means is providedfor displacing the drum between its positions. Container means ismovable between an upper and a lower position in which it isrespectively located above and below the level of the drum when thelatter is in the second position thereof. A hoist or similar meansdisplaces the container means between the upper and lower positionsthereof. Connecting means connects the interiors of the drum and thecontainer means and enables gravity discharge of the contents of thedrum to the container means when the drum is in the second position andthe container means is in the lower position, and of the contents of thecontainer means to the drum when the former is in the upper is in itsupper position and the drum is in its second position.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PMENTEDBEBBSW 378E475 SHE 2 UP 4 Fig.3

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PATENTEB DEC 2 5 I973 SHEET 3 OF 4 MU WHMWWHMWHHMHUMU HM TUMBLER WITHDRUM TRANSFER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates generally to a transfer apparatus, and moreparticularly to an apparatus utilizing tumbler drums the contents ofwhich need to be periodically transferred, completely or in part, out ofthe drum with the same or new contents being returned into the drumsubsequently.

It is already known to provide apparatus of this type which basicallyinvolves a frame or support provided with at least two rollers orcylinders at least one of which is driven and on the circumferences ofwhich there rests a drum which is hollow and which is rotated when therollers rotate. The drum can be removed from the rollers and displacedonto or into a servicing device where the material to be tumbled,together with the tumbling means-such as balls, abrasive objects or thelikeis charged or discharged from the drum, as the case may be. Liquidrequired for the tumbling operation may also be charged into or removedfrom the drum when the latter is moved to the servicing device.

The problem with the known constructions is that the tumblingmeans-which hereafter will be referred to as the tumbling balls,although other objects can also be used for this purposemust manually beintroduced into the drum when the latter is being charged. This istime-consuming, not only in terms of the period of time for which thedrum is out of operation but also in terms of the labor required.Evidently, the larger the drum is, the more time will be needed in orderto introduce the requisite quantity of steel balls or similar means intothe drum.

Clearly, this is not entirely satisfactory and improvements in thisfield are therefore decidedly needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the presentinvention to provide such improvements.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to providean apparatus of .the type in question which is not possessed of thedisadvantages of the prior art and which is provided with these outlinedimprovements. 7

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such an apparatuswhich permits rapid charging and discharging of the drum contentswithout requiring manual operations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatuswhich despite the improvements is simple in its construction andreliable in its operation.

In pursuance of the above objects, and of others which will becomeapparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides, in anapparatus of the type under discussion in the provision of at least onehollow rotatable drum movable between a first and a second position inthe latter of which it can receive and discharge its contents. Firstdisplacing means are provided for displacing the drum between thepositions thereof. Container means are movable between an upper and alower position which are respectively above and below the level of thedrum when the latter is in its second position. Second displacing meansare provided for displacing the container means between the positions ofthe same, and connecting means are provided for connecting the interiorsof the drum and of the container means whereby to enable gravitydischarge of the contents from the drum located at the second positionto the container means located at the lower position thereof, and fromthe container means located at the upper position to the drum when thelatter is in its second position.

With the apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention,the balls or similar tumbling means accommodated in the drum will, whendischarged therefrom, automatically move into and become collected inthe container means. Subsequently when they are to be returned into thedrum, the latter remains in its second position and the container meansis raised to its upper position so that again the balls will move underthe influence of gravity back into the drum, in neither case requiringfor their displacement any manual aid. Moreover, the displacement of thetumbling balls between the drum and the container means, and vice versa,requires a fraction of the time which was heretofore necessary to effectthe removal and return of the tumbling balls into the drum.

The apparatus according to the present invention preferably continues toutilize-as known from the arta servicing device in which the drum isaccommodated-to assume its second position-when it is to be dischargedor charged. The container means and the associated components permittingit to be moved between its upper and lower positions is locatable in anydesired relationship with respect to the servicing device as long assuch relationship assures ready accessiblity to the servicing device anda drum contained in or on the same. According to a currently preferredembodiment the container means is to be located laterally of the axis ofthe drum and axially spaced from the latter. It is advantageous toprovide the container means on its side facing the servicing device withan opening into which a free end portion of a conduit communicating withthe interior of the servicing device, and therefore of a drumaccommodated in it, can extend when the container means is in its lowerposition. To prevent interference of this free end portion with themovement of the container means to and from its upper position, the freeend portion of the conduit may be made displaceable, for instanceretractable out of the path of the container means.

According to the invention it is also advantagous, and assures a mostsimple return of the tumbling balls from the container means into thedrum, when the lower portion of the container means is provided with aflexible hose which may be of rubber, plastic, metal or the like andwhich can be displaced between one position in which its open endcommunicates with the interior of the drum at the second position-eitherdirectly or indirectly via the servicing devicewhereas in its otherposition the lower end is raised upwardly and the free end of the hoseis connected to an upper portion of the container means to preventundesired discharge of contents from the latter. The hose, particularlythe outlet end portion thereof, may also be provided with a closuredevice, for instance a manually operating closure, which preventsundesired discharge until such time as the hose has been moved to aposition in which its open end communicates with the drum to be charged.

it is also advantageous to still a further concept of the invention tomount the container means on vertical guide rails of a suitable frame orthe like, and to provide a lift or hoist, preferably an electricallyoperated one, and in the upper portion of the frame, connecting it withthe container means so that the latter can be lifted and lowered betweenits upper and lower positions by the hoist.

The contents of the drum usually are comprised not only of the tumblingballs but also of a liquid. In order to make it possible to separate thetumbling balls from the liquid it is advantageous for the interiorcrosssection of the container means to be downwardly convergent and toprovide the interior with a screen extending across it and preferablybeing removable for inspection or replacement. The lower portion of thecontainer is then provided with a chamber in which liquid entering thecontainer means together with the tumbling balls from the drum cancollect and from which it can be discharged via a trough or similardischarge conduit. Thus, only the tumbling balls are retained in theinterior of the container means, whereas the liquid runs off and can bedischarged into a removal trough or conduit which preferably is solocated that at least in the lower position of the container means thedischarge conduit will discharge liquid into it. The spent liquid canthen be freely removed and be replaced for the next charge with freshliquid.

It is clear that the invention is applicable not only to an apparatus ofthe type discussed having a single drum, but also to an apparatus havinga plurality of drums, such apparatus being known. In this case, theservicing device-which otherwise will be stationary on the machine-ismade movable itself so that it can move to the various drums and receiveeach drum when it is ready for charging or discharging. The servicingdevice then transports the drum to a servicing station-corresponding tothe second position of the drum-where the charging and dischargingproceeds as outlined above.

It is also possible to provide an apparatus of this type with drumswhich are are arranged in two superimposed rows, and to associate amovable servicing device with each of these rows of drums. In this casethe drums of both rows can still be serviced for charging anddischarging with one and the same container means, except that thecontainer means must then be so constructed that it not onlymovesbetween an upper and a lower position but also an intermediateposition. The upper position then is the position in which it candischarge to drums of the upper row, the intermediate position is theposition in which it can receive material from drums of the upper row ordischarge to drums of the lower row, and the lower position is the onein which it can receive material from the drums of the lower row.Evidently, the container means can be located either to the left or tothe right of such an apparatus.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplaryapparatus embodying the invention, illustrating the apparatus in oneoperative condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the apparatus in anotheroperative condition;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the apparatus in a thirdcondition;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through components of the apparatus inFIGS. 1-3, with the components being located in the position shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the container means of theillustrated apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 77 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the drawing now indetail, and referring firstly to FIGS. 1-3, it will be seen that theexemplary apparatus is provided with a frame having two spaced supports10 and 12 which are rigidly connected by traverse members 14, 15 and 16.Mounted between the supports are two transversely spaced hollowcylinders 18 and 20 of which the former is driven by a nonillustrateddrive mounted in the support 12, whereas the cylinder 20 is freelyrotatable. Of course this relationship can be reversed and it isemphasized that the drive is not illustrated because it is entirelyconventional and well known to those skilled in the art. A controlconsole 22 is provided with switches and similar control devices 24 bymeans of which the drive of the driven cylinder can be operated.

A handwheel 26, combined with an RPM-indicator, permits selection of thedesired rotational speed of the driven cylinder. In the illustratedembodiment the distance between the supports 10 and 12 is so selectedthat for instance five axially arrayed drums 20 can be supported on thecircumference of the cylinders 18 and 20 with the circumference of theirwheels and 32.

The drums 28 are basically of known construction, being for instanceprovided with a drum body 34 of hexagonal cross-section having anopening which is elongated and which can be closed by a cover 38retained releasably in position by a retaining member 36. At the endfaces of the drum wheels 30 and 32 there is provided centrally a pin 42and 44 and these abut againt spacer arms 46 which extend betweenconsecutive ones of the drums.

The traverse member 16 is configurated as a liquidremoval trough whereasthe traverse members 14 and 16 are configurated as rails for a servicingdevice which is identified in toto with reference numeral 48 and isdisplaceable longitudinally of the apparatus, being arrestable when itis in traverse alignment with the respective drums. The drive 48comprises a carriage 50 having two spaced side walls 52 and 54, and thelower portion of the carriage 50 is configurated as a trough 56 intowhich the contents of the respective drum are to be discharged. A liquidremoval conduit 58 is also associated with the trough 56 on the support,below the trough 16. In order to convey liquid flowing out of the drumsinto the trough 58, the trough 56 may for instance be provided at itsleft side with an outlet 60.

To charge the drums or discharge them they can be manually removed fromthe cylinders 18 and 20 and placed onto the carriage 50 of the drive 48,and during this movement the pins 42 and 44 will move onto an upperabutment face 61 on the side walls of the device 48 and move intoengagement with a latching device 62 which retains them so that when thedrum is subsequently turned in order to move its opening 40 into anupper position for filling or into a lower position for discharging, thedrum cannot shifts its position. A screen 64 covers the trough 56 and ahose 66 is provided on the drive 48 for introducing fresh water or otherliquid required or desired into the interior of the respective drum.

It is emphasized that anapparatus such as has been described thus far isalready known. The drums can be used with all kinds of tumbling aids,such as tumbling or abrasive bodies of various sizes and configuration,and water or other liquid may be added to the charge.

According to the present invention the apparatus is provided with meansfor permitting gravity charging and discharging of the contents of thedrums. For discharging the drum contents in conventional manner the drumis placed onto the device 48 with its opening 40 facing downwardly, andthe solid components of the drum charge will be retained on the screen64 whereas the liquid runs off into the trough 58. According to theinvention, however, container means 70 is provided which facilitatescharging and discharging of the solid contents. These solids contents,such as steel balls or the like, are difficult and slow to handle forcharging and discharging purposes if this is to be done manually. Withthe device according to the present invention, however, charging anddischarging can be carried out rapidly, conveniently and withoutnecessitating any manual handling by an operator.

The container means according to the present invention comprises asupport 76 having two parallel uprights 72 and 74 or rails which areconnected at their upper and lower ends so as to make the frame rigidand provide a stable preferably box-shaped support. The frame 76 issuitably connected to the upright in this embodiment, preferably in aremovable manner at the outer side thereof. Guide rails 78 and 80 areprovided on the front side of the frame and a container 82 isdisplaceable vertically on the guide rails between an upper and a lowerposition. The guide rails 78 and 80 are preferably in form of hollowprofile members which advantageously are of quadratic cross section andprovided at their front side with a longitudinal slot 84 into whichguide members 86 and 88 engage which are provided on the container 82 atthe top and bottom regions in pairs. The outer ends of these members 86and 88 are provided with double rollers 90 which engage with the rails.In the illustrated embodiment a chain 92 is connected to the container82 and is associated with a hoist 96 provided on a supporting member 94mounted in the upper portion of the frame 76. In this, embodiment thehoist 96 is operated by means of an electromotor 98, controlled forinstance via pushbuttons 100, and raises or lowers the container 82. Forinstance the pushbuttons may each control the operation of theelectromotor in a sense making the container 82 move the entire distancefrom its lower position to its upper position, or vice versa. A furtherpushbutton may be provided to effect an emergency stop of the movementof the container, either in upward or downward direction, should thenecessity arise.

FIGS. 5 and 6 that the lower portion of the container 82, whosecross-section is to be of downardly convergent configuration is providedwith a screen insert 102 which achieves just this purpose by cooperatingwith the downwardly and inwardly inclined front wall 104 of thecontainer 82. Behind the inset 102 there is formed a chamber 106 forcollection of liquid which latter is discharged from the chamber 106through an outlet 108 which, when the container 82 is in the lowerposition shown in FIG. 5, overlaps an edge portion 110 of a removalchannel 1 12 to discharge into the latter. The channel 112 is providedwith an outlet opening 114. A flexible hose 118 is provided which isconnected with the lower end of the container 82 at 116, whereas thefree end of the hose 118 is provided with a manually actuatable closurecap 120 of a device 122. The end portion of the hose 118 can bereleasably secured to the upper portion of the container 82 when not inuse.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show that the movement of the container 82 in upward anddownward directions is limited by limit switches or similar devices 124,126 which may for instance be located at the front side of the member 74at the appropriate levels. The container 82 is provided in the upperportion of its side walls with respective lateral openings 128 and 130so that it can be positioned either to the left or to the right of amachine such as illustrated, as the case may be, or can be located inthe middle between two such machines if it is to serve two such machinesat the same time.

The container 82 is in the lower position, in which it is to receivecontents from one of the drum, located at such a level that the outlet60 of the carriage 50 extends into the facing opening 128 when thecarriage 50 is in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

To introduce steel balls or similar means into the drums, the container82 is first moved to its lower position shown in FIG. 1, and thenreceives the requisite quantity of steel balls or the like. Subsequentlydepressing of the pushbutton 100 will cause the container 82 to move toits upper position. Thereupon the device 48-which here is movable butcould also be stationary if only a single drum were involvedis moved tothe drum which is to receive a charge and is arrested, whereupon thedrum is transferred from the cylinders 18 and 20 onto the carriage 50 ofthe device and is arrested as shown in FIG. 4. The drum is then moved toits second position-the first position being its position on thecylinders 18 and 20--by means of the device 48 until it reaches thelocation shown in FIG. 4 where the device is arrested. Now, and forinstance after objects which are to be treated with the steel balls andalso liquid if desired is introduced into the drum, the hose 118 isreleased from the upper end portion of the container 82 and its free endis inserted into the opening of the drum. Removal of the cap 120 nowpermits the steel balls to move from the container 82 through the hose118 into the drum. When this is completed, having taken place under theinfluence of gravity alone, the

drum is closed and returned to its first position resting on thecylinders 18 and 20, whereupon the next drum may be charged in the samemanner, with the container 82 meanwhile having been returned first toits lower position shown in FIG. 4.

As this takes place, the contents of individually charged andcontinuously rotating drums may already have been sufficientlyprocessed, so that a new drum-- that is one to be discharged-can beplaced into the device 48 which is then moved to the position shown inFIGS. 2 and 4 whereupon the drum is opened and its contents discharged.The objects which have been processed are retained on the screen 64,where in FIG. 4 they are designated with reference numeral 132 forexemplary purposes, whereas the balls 134 which have also beendischarged will pass through the openings of the screen 164 togetherwith any liquid which may have been contained in the drum and enter intothe container 82. The objects 132 are now removed from the device 48 andthe drum is turned so that its opening faces upwardly. During this time,or subsequently thereto, the container 82 has been returned to its upperposition and now the balls can be returned via the hose 118 by gravityin a brief time to the drum, with water or other liquid being added asdesired via the hose 66. The turn-around time, that is the time requiredfor discharging and recharging the drum, is thus extremely short and nomanual intervention for removal or reintroduction of the tumbling ballsor the like is required.

It is clear that the present invention avoids the disadvantages of theprior art and achieves the desirable advantages which have been outlinedin the introductory portions of this specification.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in atransfer apparatus, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present' invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, all such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meanand range of equivalence of the followingclaims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended 1. In an apparatus as described, incombination, at least one row of axially arrayed hollow drums, each ofsaid drums being movable between a first and second position in thelatter of which it can receive and discharge its contents; guide meansfor guiding said drums between said positions thereof; container meansadjacent one end of said row and movable relative to said row between anupper and a lower position which are respectively above and below thelevel of a respective drum which is in said second position; displacingmeans for displacing said containe means between said positions thereof;a transporting device mounted for movement along said row and operativefor receiving a respective drum when the same is in said secondposition,

and for transporting said drum longitudinally of said row to and from alocation adjacent said container means; and connecting means forconnecting the interior of respective durms and said container meanswhereby to enable gravitydischarge of the contents from a drum which islocated at said location and in the second position to the containermeans while the same is in the lower position, and from the containermeans while the same is in the upper position to a drum located at saidlocation and which is in the second position.

2. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said drums having a commonaxis of rotation; and said container means being positioned laterally ofsaid axis.

3. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1; and further comprisingrotating means for rotating said drums about a longitudinal axis commonto them.

4. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said connecting meanscomprising a conduit communicating with said servicing device and havinga free end portion; and

said container means having a side facing said servicing device andbeing provided with an opening communicating with said free end portionwhen said container means are in said lower position.

5. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said container means having alower portion provided with a flexible hose having a free end section,an upper portion, attaching means for releasably attaching said free endsection to said upper portion, and blocking means for blocking said hoseagainst movement of material therethrough.

6. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising frame meansincluding upright guide rails and having an upper section; and whereinsaid second displacing means comprises lifting means provided at saidupper section and connected with said container means for effectingdisplacement thereof along said guide rails between said upper and lowerpositions.

7. In an apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said lifting meanscomprises electric drive means.

8. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said container meanscomprising at least one container having an upper end and a lower endand having a downwardly converging interior cross-section a screeninsert in the interior of said container, a chamber provided in theregion of said lower end for collecting liquid run-off from theremainder of said container, and an outlet communicating with andprojecting from said chamber.

9. In an apparatus as defined in claim 8; further comprising acollecting trough positioned so that said outlet discharges thereinto atleast when said container means are in said lower position.

1. In an apparatus as described, in combination, at least one row ofaxially arrayed hollow drums, each of said drums being movable between afirst and second position in the latter of which it can receive anddischarge its contents; guide means for guiding said drums between saidpositions thereof; container means adjacent one end of said row andmovable relative to said row between an upper and a lower position whichare respectively above and below the level of a respective drum which isin said second position; displacing means for displacing said containemeans between said positions thereof; a transporting device mounted formovement along said row and operative for receiving a respective drumwhen the same is in said second position, and for transporting said drumlongitudinally of said row to and from a location adjacent saidcontainer means; and connecting means for connecting the interior ofrespective durms and said container means whereby to enablegravity-discharge of the contents from a drum which is located at saidlocation and in the second position to the container means while thesame is in the lower position, and from the container means while thesame is in the upper position to a drum located at said location andwhich is in the second position.
 2. In an apparatus as defined in claim1, said drums having a common axis of rotation; and said container meansbeing positioned laterally of said axis.
 3. In an apparatus as definedin claim 1; and further comprising rotating means for rotating saiddrums about a longitudinal axis common to them.
 4. In an apparatus asdefined in claim 1, said connecting means comprising a conduitcommunicating with said servicing device and having a free end portion;and said container means having a side facing said servicing device andbeing provided with an opening communicating with said free end portionwhen said container means are in said lower position.
 5. In an apparatusas defined in claim 1, said container means having a lower portionprovided with a flexible hose having a free end section, an upperportion, attaching means for releasably attaching said free end sectionto said upper portion, and blocking means for blocking said hose againstmovement of material therethrough.
 6. In an apparatus as defined inclaim 1; further comprising frame means including upright guide railsand having an upper section; and wherein said second displacing meanscomprises lifting means provided at said upper section and connectedwith said container means for effecting displacement thereof along saidguide rails between said upper and lower positions.
 7. In an apparatusas defined in claim 6, wherein said lifting means comprises electricdrive means.
 8. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said containermeans comprising at least one container having an upper end and a lowerend and having a downwardly converging interior cross-section a screeninsert in the interior of said container, a chamber provided in theregion of said lower end for collecting liquid run-off from theremainder of said container, and an outlet communicating with andprojecting from said chamber.
 9. In an apparatus as defined in claim 8;further comprising a collecting trough positioned so that said outletdischarges thereinto at least when said container means are in saidlower position.